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Objectives: In this study, we aimed to reveal the extent to which they meet their daily energy and nutrient needs and the relationship with the development of anemia by examining the dietary records of women in the premenopausal and postmenopausal periods. Material and Methods: Obese women participating in the study were divided into two groups according to premenopause (36-45 years old) and postmenopause (46-73 years old). Anthropometric measurements and nutritional status were evaluated. Serum glucose, BUN, creatinine, lipid profile, AST/ALT, iron, ferritin, vitamin B12, TSH, free T4, vitamin D and hemogram parameters of all participants were recorded. Results: The waist circumference of 67.5% of the women in the premenopausal group and 75% of the women in the postmenopausal group were above 88 cm. The BUN and HDL levels of premenopausal women were found to be lower than those in the postmenopausal period (BUN:10.6±3.51 vs 15.06±4.96 mg/dL and HDL:54.1±9.1 vs 59.3±13.5 m/dL, P

Objective This study was conducted to identify the diagnostic value of carotid stump pressure for determining the need for a carotid artery shunt in patients undergoing carotid artery endarterectomy. Materials and methods Carotid stump pressure was prospectively measured in all carotid artery endarterectomies performed under local anesthesia between January 2020 and April 2022. The shunt was selectively used when neurological symptoms appeared after carotid cross-clamping. Carotid stump pressure was compared between patients who needed shunting and those who did not. Demographic and clinical characteristics, hematological and biochemical parameters, and carotid stump pressure of the patients with and without shunts were statistically compared. To determine the optimal cutoff value and diagnostic performance of carotid stump pressure for identifying the patients who need a shunt, receiver operating characteristic analysis was performed. Results Overall, 102 patients (61 men and 41 women) who underwent carotid artery endarterectomy under local anesthesia were included, with an age range of 51–88 years. A carotid artery shunt was used in 16 (8 men and 8 women) patients. The carotid stump pressure values of the patients with a shunt were lower than those without a shunt (median (min–max): 42 (20–55) vs 51 (20–104), p < 0.0006). In the receiver operating characteristic curve analysis performed to determine the need for a shunt, the optimal cutoff value of carotid stump pressure was ≤48 mmHg, sensitivity was 93.8%, and specificity was 61.6% (area under the curve: 0.773, p < 0.0001). Conclusion Carotid stump pressure has sufficient diagnostic power to determine the need for a shunt, but it cannot be used alone in the clinical setting. Instead, it can be used in combination with other neurological monitoring methods.

COVID-19 causes severe complications particularly in respiratory system especially in the elderly and those with poor general health. General and oral health are closely related to the course of such viral diseases. This study aims to reveal the relationship between the Dental Damage Stage (DD Stg) and the severity of COVID-19 disease.The study included 137 patients (20-65 years) based on oral examination records and panoramic X-rays of 1516 COVID-19 patients diagnosed through real time PCR tests. DD Stg were determined according to data of Apical Periodontitis Grading Scale, Radiologic Alveolar Bone Loss and Pathophysiological Process of Dental Caries obtained from dental radiological images. DD Stg were determined according to the severity of dental pathology and compared in terms of age, gender, numbers of dental caries (NDC), dental implants (NDI), root canal treatment (NRCT), tooth fillings (NTF), missing teeth (NMT) and hospitalization due to COVID-19 (NHC), presence of chronic disease (CD), and symptom associated with COVID-19 (SAC) RESULTS: Patients in DD Stg 3 had significantly higher age and mortality. CD, NDC and NHC values were higher in DD Stg 2 and 3 than in DD Stg 0 and 1. NHCs were higher in DD Stg 3 than in DD Stg 2. NMTs were higher in DD Stg 3 than other stages. SACs were significantly lower in DD Stg 0 than in DD Stg 1, 2 and 3. NDC, NHC, SAC and CD were effective on DD staging; they were moderately positively related.The relationship detected between DD stage and the severity and prognosis of viral disease such as COVID-19 was found to be remerkable for extensive studies.

As there is no specific treatment yet, the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic is being carried out with great difficulty today. The use of immune plasma is seen as a promising option since there is expectation that it will reduce mortality, as in influenza pandemics experienced in 1918 and 2009. However, the safety and effectiveness of this treatment option against SARS-CoV-2 viruses are not known for certain. In addition, the optimal obtaining methods and protection time of neutralizing antibodies to be used to provide passive immunization are not fully known. Therefore, it would be very useful to investigate the most effective neutralizing antibody collection methods without disrupting the overall structure and effectiveness of the antibodies subject to the use of the convalescent immune plasma. For this purpose, we found it appropriate to prepare a broad review on the structure and properties of antibodies, as well as the principles and storage conditions of antibodies to be used in passive immunization.

To examine the use of IL-6 and PAPP-A along with the new imaging for scoring methods to determine the severity of apical periodontitis (AP). The scoring of disease severity in 121 patients with AP, using dental radiographs, was based on "The Apical Periodontitis Grading Scale" (APGS), as those having 1 tooth with AP and severity of 3-4 were classified as grade 1 (mild); those having > 1 tooth and severity of 3-4 as grade 2 (moderate) and those with at least one tooth with a severity of 5 as grade 3 (severe). 45 systematically and orally healthy volunteers were selected as the control group (grade 0). Dental demographic data of all participants were recorded. Besides, venous blood samples were collected to study their complete blood count and levels of IL-6 and PAPP-A. Both NLR and PAPP-A levels of the grade 3 AP patients were found significantly higher than those of the control group and grade 1 and grade 2 AP patients (2.55 +/- 1.40 vs 1.98 +/- 1.05, 1.94 +/- 0.58 and 1.86 +/- 0.50; 0.606 +/- 0.211 vs 0.422 +/- 0.273, 0.447 +/- 0.224 and 0.436 +/- 0.242,p < 0.01, respectively). AP grades identified by the new scoring system were moderately correlated with IL-6 levels (Spearmanr = 0.4168,p < 0.001). The risk of patients with IL-6 levels above 12.5 pg/ml to develop AP (relative risk) was found to be 2.19 times higher than that in those with lower IL-6 levels (98% Cl 1.233-3.905,p < 0.0024). APGS classification suggested to determine AP severity was found to be significantly correlated with levels of inflammatory markers IL-6 and PAPP-A.

Immune thrombocytopenia currently called under its’ new name, immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is a disease characterized by thrombocytopenia, in which the body attacks its own platelets due to the disorders in immune system. The pathophysiology of this disease includes increased platelet destruction and most megakaryocyte production in bone marrow. The most common clinical manifestation of ITP is mild or severe progressive bleeding that could result in death. ITP is generally named as primary or secondary ITP according to thrombocytopenia severity, disease duration, bleeding status and secondary occurrence of the disease. Currently for diagnosis, despite the blood count, antiglobulin test and laboratory tests that can detect platelet-bound antibodies, they are not enough for definitive diagnosis. Like the difficulty in diagnosis, ITP treatment is quite complicated which varies depending on age, characteristics and risk of the patient. It is classified as first, second and third-line treatment options. Also, depending on the condition of patients, combined treatment might be an option which increases the complexity of the treatment. Unfortunately, discussions related to different clinical applications in diagnosis and treatments continue recently. For this reason, we considered that preparation of a review containing recent updates in diagnostic approaches and treatment options in ITP will be remarkable and beneficial for physicians interested in this subject.

While the COVID-19 pandemic has raised concerns about the future of people worldwide, it has made it necessary to take measures with high economic costs, including quarantine. We consider it is more logical for some scientists to investigate time-saving treatment options until vaccination studies, which are started to be studied rapidly, are accomplished or specific antiviral agents are found. In this context, treatment combinations of one or more of the immune modulators known as cytokines, which can stimulate or accelerate the immune system, should be tried. In our opinion, although such options are not as effective as specific treatments such as vaccines, such options will offer highly effective alternatives in times of emergency. For this reason, we found it appropriate to make a reminder by preparing a broad review about interferon gamma, which is an antivirus and is an immunomodulator and which plays a critical role in humoral and cellular immunity.

Objectives The aim of the present study is to evaluate the diagnostic powers of fractional magnesium, sodium and potassium as markers of renal tubular damage in normotensive type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients with respect to microalbuminuria and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). Materials and methods Forty healthy volunteers and 91 normotensive T2DM patients were included in the study. Patient group was divided into two according to albuminuria level; 49 were normoalbuminuric and 42 were microalbuminuric. In addition to albumin in urine, urine and serum Na, K, Mg and creatinine values were measured to calculate fractional electrolyte excretion rates. Results In normoalbuminuric and microalbuminuric groups, fractional excretion of magnesium (FEMg) values were found to be significantly higher than the control group (p Conclusion For renal tubular damage predicted by microalbuminuria, FEMg could be accepted as a candidate biochemical marker with diagnostic and prognostic value.

Small cell carcinoma of the prostate is a rare and highly aggressive subtype of prostate cancers. In this case report, we evaluated a patient applied our outpatient clinic with acute urinary retention, whose pathology reported as pure small cell carcinoma of the prostate. A 73-year-old male patient was admitted to our outpatient clinic with acute urinary retention. Digital rectal examination was normal. The PSA value was 1.81 ng/dl. Prostate size was 101 cc. Open prostatectomy was performed. The pathology of the patient was reported as pure small cell prostate carcinoma. Four cycles of etoposide and cisplatin chemotherapy were administered to the patient. The patient died 13 months later after the first diagnosis. We evaluated the pathological and clinical findings of small cell carcinoma of the prostate.

Biogenic amines, which are responsible for the realization of many physiological conditions of our body, are compounds that can be produced by microorganisms especially in fermented foods with high protein content. They can have harmful effects on human health only when taken in high amounts with food. However, in individuals with impaired anti-toxic metabolism, which is responsible for detoxification, even lower amounts may cause toxic effects. The most common health effects are nausea, vomiting, severe headaches, hypotension, hypertension, tachycardia, various allergic reactions, abdominal pain and death in more severe cases. For these reasons, legislations on biogenic amines in foods have been established with some restrictions. Food producers have been asked to comply with these legislations. However, despite all precautions, biogenic amines in foods have not been completely removed. Further research is still needed to find effective solutions to prevent biogenic amine formation. In addition, consumers need to be made aware of this issue.

To investigate the relationship between apical periodontitis [AP] severity and inflammatory markers [interleukin (IL)-12, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), and Mid-Regional Pro Adrenomedullin (MR-proADM)] in patients with AP. A total of 162 subjects were divided into three categories: AP group (n=80), periodontitis (P) group (n= 42), healthy control group (n = 40). The scoring of disease severity in 80 AP patients without any periodontal disease, using dental radiographs, was based on The Abscess Score (AS), as those having at least 1 tooth with AP and severity of PAI 3-4 were classified as AS 1 (mild); those with only1 tooth and severity of PAI 5 as AS 2 (moderate) and those having > 2 tooth with severity of PAI 5 as AS 3 (severe). Blood samples were collected from all of the patients. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to evaluate the samples. The MR-pro ADM levels of both the AP and P groups were considerably higher than the control group (p < 0.01). The IL-12 levels of the AP group were higher than the P and control groups (p < 0.05). TNF-alpha levels of the P group were significantly higher than both the AP and control groups (p < 0.01). MR-pro ADM levels of both the AP and Periodontitis groups were higher than the control group. TNF-alpha was a biomarker of periodontitis, while IL-12 was a biomarker of apical periodontitis. WOS:000886450500001 Q2

Aims The relationship between the innate immune system that creates the polysaccharide antibody response and COVID‐19 is not fully understood. In this study, it was aimed to determine the predictive values of isohaemagglutinins in COVID‐19 severity/mortality. Methods Approximately 15 440 patients diagnosed with COVID‐19 were examined, and a total of 286 patients with anti‐B and anti‐A1 IgM isohaemagglutinins test results were randomly enrolled in the study. These patients were stratified into two groups according to anti‐A1 (n: 138 blood type B or O) and anti‐B (n: 148 blood type A) IgM isohaemagglutinins. Anti‐A1 or/and anti‐B IgM, biochemical parameters, symptoms, chronic diseases, hospitalisation status, intubation status, admission to intensive care unit (ICU) and exitus status were recorded and evaluated for all patients. Results Anti‐A1 IgM and anti‐B IgM were significantly lower in ICU patients (7.5 ± 9.9 vs 18.0 ± 20.4 and 5.5 ± 6.3 vs 19.3 ± 33.6 titres, respectively; P

In literature, it has been reported that adrenomedullin, which is generally thought to have vasodilator, natriuretic and diuretic effects, is synthesized in almost all body, especially CNS, vascular muscles and endothelium, heart, liver, lung, kidney, gastric mocosa, intestinal endothelium and various blood cells. It has been found that the possible effects of adrenomedullin can be demonstrated directly or indirectly by means of active mediators, neuropeptides, enzymes and hormones. It is also suggested that it regulates the endocrine system by affecting the hypothalamic-pituitary axis. It increases in heart failure, acute coronary syndromes, hypertensive conditions, cerebrovascular accessory, chronic renal failure and periodontitis and decreases in peptic ulcer and intestinal diseases. However, it is still not clear whether increase/decrease in adrenomedullin level is a cause of a disease or is a result of damage due to an illness. This peptide, which could be thought to multifunctional, should be considered as a molecule with genetic coding that may have different effects on different tissues and conditions. For all these reasons, we aimed to review the multifonctional behavior of adrenomedullin in the light of the current literature to pioneer new hypotheses and discuss possible mechanisms.

Nowadays, obesity is seriously threatening healthy life in all societies, especially in developed societies. Obesity is showing its likely effects through biologically active substances called adipokines. The most familiar of these is leptin. Leptin is synthesized in directly proportional to the amount of adipose tissue and reduced appetite by stimulating the satiety center. This status is like a protective mechanism that tries to reverse severe pathological process. Similar to this behavior of leptin, thyroid hormones are increasing in the advanced stages of obesity, increasing the resting energy expenditure (REE). The accelerating oxidative phosphorylation causes the use of energy as heat, the energy that has not transformed into ATP, together with ATP synthesis. This situation, the significant portion of energy provides to consumed instead of storing as fat. In addition, finding that T3 accelerates glucose transport and the TCA cycle without changing the rate of ATP synthesis in skeletal muscles suggests that thyroid hormones may be an effective tool in standing against obesity. In addition of that, the presence of studies indicating that thyroid hormones have an increasing tendency in the advanced stages of obesity is likely thought to be a rescuer mechanism to increase the effectiveness of suppressed thyroid hormones. On the contrary of these ideas, having been reported suppressing 5’-deiodinease enzyme activity in chronic diseases causes anxiety about the effectiveness of thyroid hormones in obesity. Based on available information, we aimed to prepare a review evaluating of this adaptive condition of thyroid hormones.

BACKGROUND Matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) is an enzyme that contributes to inflammation and tissue remodelling. In chronic urticaria, increased plasma levels of MMP-9 and its correlation with disease severity have been shown in several studies, suggesting that MMP-9 could be used to evaluate the effects of new treatments. We aimed to compare MMP-9 levels in chronic urticaria patients with those of healthy patients. Then we planned to investigate the changes in plasma MMP-9 levels with chronic urticaria treatment, the role of this enzyme in demonstrating the efficacy of treatment, and its correlation with C-reactive protein (CRP). METHODS Forty-one patients with chronic urticaria who were scheduled for omalizumab treatment and 41 sex- and age-matched healthy volunteers were included in the study. In the patient group, before treatment and at the end of the 12th week, the urticaria activity score used for 7 consecutive days (UAS7) was calculated, and the MMP-9 and CRP levels were measured. Plasma MMP-9 levels were measured from venous blood in the control group. RESULTS The plasma MMP-9 levels of the patients before treatment were significantly higher than those of the control group (P

BACKGROUND/AIM Epidemiological evidence suggests that diabetes poses a high risk for many chronic diseases, especially cardiovascular diseases, and cancer by stimulating many inflammatory and immunological pathogenic mediators and affecting Natural Killer (NK)-cell activity. In this study, the effects of melatonin and resveratrol on IL-6, TNF-?, oxidant/antioxidant capacity, NK-cell activity and mid-regional proadrenomedullin (MR-proADM) levels of diabetic rats were investigated. MATERIALS AND METHODS In the study, 28 Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into the control group (group I) and 3 streptozotocin-induced diabetes mellitus (DM) groups (group II, III and IV), each group being 7 rats. 5 mg/kg/day melatonin to group III and 5 mg/kg/day resveratrol (intraperitoneal) to group IV was given. At the end of 3 weeks, NK-cell activity, total antioxidant/oxidant capacity, MR-proADM, IL-6 and TNF-? levels were measured in intracardiac blood taken under anesthesia. RESULTS NK-cell activity of group II was found lower than group I, group III and group IV (7.4 ± 2.0 vs. 22.5 ± 11.9, 30.6 ± 22.5 and 20.4 ± 9.1 pg/mL; p = 0.0018, respectively). The difference was more prominent in diabetic rats receiving melatonin (p

BACKGROUND The present study sought to assess the renal and liver protective effect of N-acetylcysteine through NH3 and urea metabolism in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease who were scheduled for coronary artery bypass grafting surgery. MATERIAL AND METHODS Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) who were scheduled for coronary artery bypass grafting were divided into 2 groups so as to receive (Group 1, n=35) or not receive (Group 2, n=35) 900 mg/day of n-acetylcysteine for 7 days before the operation starting from their admission to the service by a pulmonologist with the purpose of treating COPD until the day of surgery. Both groups were subjected to the same anesthesia protocol. Blood samples were taken preoperatively, within the first 15th minute following cessation of the cardiopulmonary bypass, at postoperative 24th hour, and at postoperative 48th hour. Blood tests included ammonia (NH3), lactate, blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), troponin I (Tn I), and creatinine kinase-muscle brain (CKMB). RESULTS There was a significant difference between the groups' NH3 and lactate levels after cardiopulmonary bypass, postoperative 24th hour, and postoperative 48th hour (respectively, NH3: 39.0±8.8 vs. 55.4±19.6 and 40.1±8.4 vs. 53.2±20.2 mcg/dl, lactate: 1.7±0.9 vs. 2.1±1.2 and 1.2±0.5 vs. 1.8±1.4 mmol/L; p

Aging is a process that begins at birth and ends with death. This process is accompanied by environmental effects, which cause structural and functional changes in cells and tissues. With regards to healthy aging, melatonin significantly extends lifespan. This study aims to show the anti-aging effects of melatonin on lifespan by a model organism called Caenorhabditis elegans. The nematode strain N2 (wild-type) was acquired, and E. coli OP50 was used in the study. Worms were grouped into a control group (n=100), and six experimental groups (group 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and group 6) (n=100 in each of them). Interventions were made by exposing Caenorhabditis elegans to various dosages of melatonin and follow up was made for 21 days. The survey of Caenorhabditis elegans, which depends on time and dosage as the main outcome measures, was examined microscopically. Different dosages of melatonin affected the lifespan and morphology of Caenorhabditis elegans. Melatonin might be used in the prevention of aging.

Background: This study aims to evaluate the most appropriate analgesic method of minimizing postoperative pain to prevent complications in patients scheduled for cardiac surgery. Methods: Between January 2016 and June 2016, a total of 60 patients with the American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status Class III (27 males, 33 females; mean age 63 years; range, 49 to 77 years) with an ejection fraction of above 50% who underwent elective coronary artery bypass grafting were included. The patients were divided into two groups following admission to the intensive care unit. Group 1 (n=30) was administered intravenous fentanyl citrate with patient-controlled analgesia protocol, while Group 2 (n=30) was administered 0.1% bupivacaine hydrochloride analgesia protocol with catheter placed between the sternum and subcutaneous tissue. Results: In Group 1, pain intensity scores at two h and visual analog scale scores except at 24, 36, and 48 h were higher than Group 2 (p

Coxiella burnetii (C. burnetii) bacterium, the causative agent of Q fever has regained importance due to the increasing cases of infections and outbreaks. A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted to investigate the seroprevalence of C. burnetii in human populations of Erzincan province located in the eastern Turkey, identify the risk factors, and to explore the relationship between geographical features.A total of 368 people residing in the rural (306) and urban (62) areas of the province were included in the study. Serum samples were analyzed for the presence of C. burnetii phase II IgG antibody using ELISA (Virion/ Serion, Wurzburg, Germany). Spatial analyses were performed to evaluate correlations between seroprevalence and geographical features.The overall seroprevalence of C. burnetii was found to be 8.7% (32/368). In rural residents it was 8.5% (26/306), while in urban population it was 9.7% (6/62). Cattle breeding and contact with animal afterbirth waste were found to be major risk factors, and were significantly correlated with seropositive cases (p0.05). The seropositive cases were only observed in the areas between 1067 and 1923 masl. Of the total seropositive cases, 65.6% were within 1000 m and 87.5% within 4000 m of rivers and their main tributaries. Around 59.4% cases were observed in areas with a slope of 0 to 5°.The results of the study showed that C. burnetii seroprevalence was higher than expected, and significantly differs according to geographical features of a region. Significant risk factors include raising cattle and exposure to infected animals or their birth products/secretions. It is also more frequent in areas with higher number of rivers and streams, higher altitude and lower slope.

Objective: This study was designed to investigate the validity of brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels for the estimation of the shunt size in young adults with atrial septal defect (ASD), and to determine the relationship between BNP levels and echocardiographic parameters of right heart chambers. Methods: Fifty-six patients with ASD (mean age 22.9 ± 2.0 years) were studied. The control group consisted of 31 age-gender matched healthy volunteers (mean age 22.7 ± 1.9 years). Coventional echocardiography, tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) and plasma BNP level measurement was performed in all participants. The ratio of pulmonary to systemic blood flow (Qp/Qs) was measured noninvasively using transthoracic echocardiography. Results: Plasma BNP levels were significantly higher in ASD patients than in controls (42.9 ± 29.4 vs. 8.3 ± 2.6 pg/mL, P < 0.05). Pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) (P = 0.0001), right atrium (RA) volume (P = 0.0001), and right ventricular end-diastolic volume (RVEDV) (P = 0.0001) values were higher in ASD patients. There was a powerful correlation between plasma BNP levels and Qp/Qs ratio (r = 0.71, P < 0.0001). The plasma BNP levels significantly correlated with PAP (r = 0.61, P < 0.0001), RA volume (r = 0.54, P < 0.0001), RVEDV (r = 0.55, P < 0.0001), and right ventricular myocardial performance index (r = 0.50, P < 0.0001). Conclusion: This study shows that there is a significant correlation between right heart echocardiographic parameters and concentrations of BNP in the plasma of young adults with ASD. BNP levels may provide a supplemental data to predict of shunt size in these patients. (Echocardiography 2011;28:243-247)

This study was designed to investigate the validity of brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels for the estimation of the shunt size in young adults with atrial septal defect (ASD), and to determine the relationship between BNP levels and echocardiographic parameters of right heart chambers.Fifty-six patients with ASD (mean age 22.9 ± 2.0 years) were studied. The control group consisted of 31 age-gender matched healthy volunteers (mean age 22.7 ± 1.9 years). Coventional echocardiography, tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) and plasma BNP level measurement was performed in all participants. The ratio of pulmonary to systemic blood flow (Qp/Qs) was measured noninvasively using transthoracic echocardiography.Plasma BNP levels were significantly higher in ASD patients than in controls (42.9 ± 29.4 vs. 8.3 ± 2.6 pg/mL, P0.05). Pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) (P = 0.0001), right atrium (RA) volume (P = 0.0001), and right ventricular end-diastolic volume (RVEDV) (P = 0.0001) values were higher in ASD patients. There was a powerful correlation between plasma BNP levels and Qp/Qs ratio (r = 0.71, P0.0001). The plasma BNP levels significantly correlated with PAP (r = 0.61, P0.0001), RA volume (r = 0.54, P0.0001), RVEDV (r = 0.55, P0.0001), and right ventricular myocardial performance index (r = 0.50, P0.0001).This study shows that there is a significant correlation between right heart echocardiographic parameters and concentrations of BNP in the plasma of young adults with ASD. BNP levels may provide a supplemental data to predict of shunt size in these patients.

In the health sector, the blood analysis is one of the most used diagnostic method. Although high technological systems provide very important information in the diagnosis of the blood diseases, a microscopic smear analysis is required for an accurate diagnosis. In this study the microscopic images of the blood cells are analysed and the location of the white blood cells are identified in the images. After this process, the determination of the kernel borders and than cell borders of the white blood cells are investigated. During this process logical and morphological operations are applied. When considering the running time of the system, the result of the investigation are satisfactory. In future studies it's expected that it will be a basis of the complex investigations such as the determination of the cancer cells or the cellular disorders.

Microscopic analysis of images in the health care at the cellular level is one of the important methods for analysis and final diagnosis. In the diagnosis of blood diseases, although high technology systems provide very important information, for a definitive diagnosis microscopic smear examinations are needed. Microscopic examination is a time-consuming task for doctors. Therefore, in this study a basic system has been developed that may speed up the eye examination. In future, further development of this system may be an alternative to visual examination. From the basic blood cells (leukocyte, erythrocyte, platelet), we only focused on the locations of white blood cells in the image. In the development process of this system real blood smear images has been used. In this study iterative algorithms are not used instead of this, logical and morphological processes have been used. This allows faster operation of the system.

This study aims to determine the role of hematological variables in determining critical coronary artery stenosis in young adults with myocardial infarction.This study includes 76 of 1,804 patients who applied to our hospital between January 2001 and December 2005. All were under 35 years old, diagnosed as acute myocardial infarction with clinical and laboratory findings, and had coronary angiography. Study patients were divided into two groups: those having critical coronary artery lesions (group I) and those having normal coronary arteries (group II). Then we compared these groups for age, sex, body mass index, risk factors, plasma protein C, protein S, antithrombine III and fibrinogen. Student t test, the c2 test, Fisher's exact test and Mann Whitney U test were used.There were no differences between the two groups in terms of hypertension (p = 0.70), smoking (p = 0.50), hyperlipidemia (p = 0.09), body mass index (p = 0.14), family history (p = 0.10), plasma protein C (p = 0.08), protein S (p = 0.35) or antithrombine III (p = 0.60). Plasma fibrinogen levels were significantly higher in group I than in group II (p = 0.001).Our study shows that high plasma fibrinogen levels may be used as a predictor of critical coronary artery lesions in young patients with acute myocardial infarction.

To detect the functional importance of coronary collaterals, which develop after acute myocardial infarctions (AMI).Forty patients with acute AMI whose coronary angiography demonstrated a total occlusion of the left anterior descendant (LAD) artery were included in the study, between January 2003 and June 2004. All of the study patients underwent coronary angiography and left ventriculography using standard Judkins techniques (Phillips Integris-3000). Left ventricular (LV) free walls were divided into 5 segments, and all of these segments motions were evaluated then LV free wall motion score index (WMSI) was calculated. The study patients were divided into 2 groups: good (Rentrop 3; group I; n = 14) and poor coronary collateral circulation (Rentrop 0-2; group II; n = 26) according to the Rentrop grading. Then, color kinesis dobutamine stress echocardiography (CK-DSE) was performed to all patients with standard techniques 6 weeks after AMI.There were no significant differences for age, gender, risk factors for the coronary artery disease and use of the fibrinolytic therapy between the groups. There were no significant statistical differences for angiographic WMSI, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), end-diastolic volume, end-systolic volume and end-diastolic pressures between the 2 groups. No difference was detected between Group I and II for initial EF, WMSI and peak dose WMSI in CK-DSE procedure. Viability was determined in all of the 14 patients in group I (100%) and 12 of 26 patients in group II (46%) (p = 0.03).In early periods of an AMI genesis of the coronary collateral circulation does not affect left ventricular global and regional systolic functions, but increase viability quite significantly. According to our findings early revascularization could be carried out in patients with good coronary collateral circulation without doing any test for viability.

WOS: 000431535600014, The protein extraction from the blue-green microalgae Spirulina platensis was carried out using ultrasound-assisted extraction and response surface methodology (RSM) was used to optimise extraction conditions. Extraction yield, total phenolic content, antioxidant activity and in vitro protein digestibility of protein extracts were determined. A three factors Box-Behnken design (BBD) of experiments was employed at pH values of 7, 8 and 9; temperatures of 25, 35, and 45 degrees C; and for durations of 60, 90 and 120 minutes. Based on the RSM analysis, optimum extraction conditions (temperature 45 degrees C, pH 7.46 and time 120 min) were obtained for extraction yield (29.05%), total phenolic content (3.52 mg caffeic acid equivalent/g dw), antioxidant activity (11.32 mg Trolox equivalent/g dw) and in vitro protein digestibility (99.36%). We report the first evaluation of the in vitro protein digestibility of Spirulina platensis and find it to be over 90%. This value is higher than the in vitro protein digestibility values of proteins obtained from other algae and plant species, and, in particular, is greater than that of commercial soybean protein isolate., Center of Excellence for Natural Additives, Functional Ingredients and Health (DOKAM); Ministry of Development of the Republic of Turkey, Istanbul Development Agency [TR10/15/YNK/0146], Supported by Center of Excellence for Natural Additives, Functional Ingredients and Health (DOKAM), established by a project funded by the Ministry of Development of the Republic of Turkey, Istanbul Development Agency No. TR10/15/YNK/0146.